Kyrie Irving's NBA career is in its infancy, but people are already worrying about him leaving in free agency.

Such is the life of being a Cleveland sports fan.

The Cavs have Irving under contract for two years, plus two additional option years, plus a fifth-year qualifying offer.

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That takes us into 2016.

NBA owners tried desperately to add a franchise tag in collective bargaining agreement negotiations. Cavs owner Dan Gilbert said it was in there for a while, but it ended up on the cutting-room floor.

"It's hard to know what exact piece was close or not close because there were so many moving parts," he said. "That certainly was discussed. I think it probably would've been a good thing overall for the NBA.

"Unfortunately, it wasn't part of the agreement. But I think we did get some things that will make it better for the small market and mid-market teams."

Gilbert, part of the faction labeled "hockey" owners in negotiations, said teams will have a greater chance to hang onto their own free agents in the new deal.

"That difference in what you can pay your own max player is significantly more than it was in the previous one," he said. "Hopefully, that will help and be a difference."

Obviously, LeBron James left the organization two years ago in free agency. Gilbert said he thinks they'll have a better chance to keep Irving and forward Tristan Thompson when they reach free agency.

"The draft picks we have now, as far as organization goes, we're here from the beginning," he said. "People forget we were not here from the beginning of the previous era. We came in Year 3 (for James). We weren't able to establish a foundation and a relationship at the beginning. It's a whole different thing now and I really think it will be very different when this core of guys comes up for a contract.

"Who knows exactly who will be here and who won't, based on what happens in the NBA. (If) we keep doing the right things in the organization, keep making the arena and the franchise a great place for players to play and we start winning, things will take care of themselves."

He said teams will be able to pay their own free agents more than other teams.

"(If you're) re-signing your own free agent, you now get another year and you can pay him 30 percent of cap (in a max contract) as opposed to other teams can only pay 25 (percent)," Gilbert said. "When you add it altogether, in a situation where you have a max player, it's something like $28 million more to stay with the existing team than to leave your team and go to another."

He admits he wasn't jumping up and down with happiness over the new CBA.

"I think it's fair overall," Gilbert said. "There are some things I think are pretty good with it and some things I'd like to see different. I'm sure the players say the same thing."

He said he voted to ratify the CBA.

"There were a handful of teams that voted no and we weren't one of them," he said.

He said using the amnesty provision on Baron Davis was the right thing to do, even though they have to pay him $24 million. He said the Cavs are able to stretch the payments over a period of time.

He said he's been locked into what's going on with the Cavs, despite the fact his group is building a downtown casino.

"Frankly, I've been more engaged in watching the Cavs and getting back into it after last year than I have been in a long time," he said.

Gilbert admits he'll think twice before sending an email to NBA commissioner David Stern or other owners. He stirred up a controversy when New Orleans tried to deal Chris Paul to the Lakers. He voiced his concern about the possible trade.

"It's a little disappointing someone would leak a personal email," he said. "Owners are always making statements and having opinions between them and always sending things back and forth.

"It was unusual and shocked to see that in the media. I thought I was having a dream. Unfortunately, it wasn't. The lesson for me was probably not to send out so many emails and check things before you send stuff out."

Breaking a promise

As you probably know, Lakers coach Mike Brown's son, Elijah, was a standout guard at St. Edward High School. After his father left the Cavs and moved to Los Angeles, Elijah has enrolled at Mater Dei High for his junior year.

Brown promised his boys if they started 10th grade at a school, he wouldn't move them.

He just started the season as the new Lakers coach - and he broke his promise.

While everyone was obsessing over how Kobe Bryant felt about the Lakers hiring him back in late May, Brown was worrying about how another shooting guard was feeling.

"It was a tough time," Brown told the Orange County Register. "The situation that Elijah was in was a good situation, school-wise and basketball-wise. As a parent, you always want the best for your kids, the best opportunity."

Many believe Elijah Brown will eventually earn a Division I basketball scholarship. He patterned his game after former Cavs guard Delonte West.

Question of the week

Hey, Bob: Can you answer two questions for me? Why hasn't Samardo Samuels been playing much and why isn't Coach Byron Scott putting Ramon Sessions in at the end of games? -- Carl from Mentor

Hey, Carl: If Coach Byron Scott had a doghouse, Samuels would be in it. Scott has been unhappy with Samuels' conditioning, rebounding and shot selection already in the early part of the season. Then, he missed the Toronto game on Wednesday after losing his passport and having visa problems. It could that that kind of year for the second-year forward/center. The Cavs are going to play Kyrie Irving in late-game situations for him to gain valuable experience. It's all about Irving's development this year.

Quick shots

oAfter seeing Raptors guard DeMar DeRozan's stats from last season, I'll never complain about Ramon Sessions' 3-point prowess again. DeRozan made 5 of 52 3-point goals last year for 9.6 percent. That was the worst percentage in NBA history. Of course, he made 5 of 8 3-pointers against the Cavs on Wednesday at Air Canada Centre.

oThe Charlotte Observer had the typo of the year recently when discussing Knicks guard Baron Davis. They were referring to Davis' herniated disk. But the last word was off by one letter. Davis even tweeted about the miscue: "Thanks Charlotte Observer for announcing my new injury. Still able to work out with it. Lol."